All 6 ‘National Lampoon’s Vacation’ Movies in Order (Including a Short Film)
Growing up, and even now, ‘National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation’ and the other films in the franchise have a particular place in everyone’s hearts. When it was released in 1983, the comedy centered on the Griswold family, and their cross-country trip was a tremendous hit with critics and viewers alike, and it became a box office sensation. The success of ‘National Lampoon’s Vacation’ produced a slew of sequels, and today, the franchise consists of 6 movies, with one of them being a spinoff. Today, we’re going to tell you how to watch them in order.
Editor’s Note: This watch order has been updated in December 2023 with the latest news regarding the franchise.
All 6 ‘National Lampoon’s Vacation’ movies in release date order
The franchise started with the release of ‘National Lampoon’s Vacation’ back in 1983. The movie was an instant hit, and the last movie in the franchise was released an amazing 32 years later’ however, it wasn’t as nearly as successful and praised as the first installments in the franchise. Here’s the release date order of all the movies.
- ‘National Lampoon’s Vacation’ (1983)
- ‘National Lampoon’s European Vacation’ (1985)
- ‘National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation’ (1989)
- ‘Vegas Vacation’ (1997)
- ‘National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation 2’ (2003)
- ‘Vacation’ (2015)
Are all ‘National Lampoon’s Vacation’ movies connected? What’s the best order to watch them in?
All ‘National Lampoon’s Vacation’ movies are connected because they are centered on the Griswold family that’s just trying to have a decent vacation at several notable locations; sadly, it always ends up in chaos. ‘National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation 2’ is, however, considered a spinoff, but the movie follows pretty much the same themes as the rest of the mainline franchise. The best order to watch all the movies is release date order.
National Lampoon’s Vacation’ movies in chronological order
Technically, all ‘National Lampoon’s Vacation’ can be watched as standalone movies as the premise is easy to get. However, there is a special timeline that you need to watch out for if you’re really into following the overarching story of the franchise. The first 3 movies are led by Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase), with the spinoff led by his cousin Eddie. The movie, released in 2015, is led by Clark’s son, Rusty. Here’s the chronological timeline.
- ‘National Lampoon’s Vacation’ (1983)
- ‘National Lampoon’s European Vacation’ (1985)
- ‘National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation’ (1989)
- ‘National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation 2’ (2003)
- ‘Vegas Vacation’ (1997)
- ‘Vacation’ (2015)
1. ‘National Lampoon’s Vacation’ (1983)
Clark Griswold plans a cross-country road trip to Walley World with his family, aiming to strengthen their bonds. Despite his wife Ellen’s preference for flying, Clark insists on driving and buys an unattractive “Wagon Queen Family Truckster” due to a car mishap. The journey is filled with misadventures, including vandalism in St. Louis, clashes with a bartender in Dodge City, and encounters with a tempting woman in a Ferrari. The family’s quest for a memorable vacation becomes a hilarious and chaotic adventure.
2. ‘National Lampoon’s European Vacation’ (1985)
The Griswold family wins a trip to Europe on a game show called “Pig in a Poke.” Their whirlwind tour across Western Europe leads to comedic chaos. In London, they stay in a disreputable hotel with a messy desk clerk. Clark’s driving mishaps in their English rental car, including accidents and a chaotic roundabout experience, add to the hilarity. At Stonehenge, Clark accidentally topples the ancient stones but remains oblivious as they continue their adventure.
3. ‘National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation’ (1989)
Clark Griswold aims for a perfect Christmas with his family. The quest for a tree becomes a comedy of errors as they uproot the largest one without proper tools. Clark’s holiday plans create chaos for neighbors Todd and Margo Chester. The arrival of both sets of parents brings bickering, but Clark remains optimistic. His extravagant light display causes a citywide power outage, adding to the festive mayhem. Despite the mishaps, Clark is determined to create a memorable and joyful Christmas for his family.
4. ‘National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation 2’ (2003)
A sequel to ‘Christmas Vacation.’ Cousin Eddie, having lost his job at a nuclear facility to a chimpanzee, worries about Christmas for his family. To avoid a potential lawsuit, the company offers them a free vacation to a South Pacific island. During a boat ride, Eddie’s attempt to catch a shark leads to them getting lost and eventually stranded on an isolated island. The story unfolds with the Griswold family and Uncle Nick navigating the challenges of their unexpected holiday adventure.
5. ‘Vegas Vacation’ (1997)
Clark Griswold, having earned a cash bonus for a successful food preservative, surprises his family with a vacation to Las Vegas to celebrate and renew wedding vows. While Ellen and Audrey have reservations about Vegas not being family-friendly, Rusty is excited. The Griswolds experience a series of misadventures, attending a Siegfried & Roy show, visiting Cousin Eddie in the desert, and taking a Hoover Dam tour where Clark gets into a tricky situation. They are also unexpectedly treated to a Wayne Newton concert, with Ellen even joining him on stage. The Vegas vacation becomes a whirlwind of surprises and comedic escapades for the Griswold family.
6. ‘Vacation’ (2015)
Rusty Griswold, now a pilot for Econo-Air, feels stuck in a dull marriage with Debbie and seeks to recreate the excitement of childhood vacations. He surprises his family with a road trip to Walley World, reminiscent of their past travels. Renting an eccentric Albanian SUV called the Tartan Prancer, the Griswolds embark on a journey filled with detours. In Memphis, Debbie’s wild past is revealed, and James, their shy son, encounters a girl named Adena. The family’s unconventional and humorous adventures unfold as they strive to make lasting memories on their nostalgic road trip.
Where to watch the above-mentioned movies?
All movies in the ‘National Lampoon’s Vacation’ can only be streamed or bought on the Apple TV store, DirecTV, Google Play Store, and other digital marketplaces. The only exception to this is ‘National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,’ which can be streamed on Max and Hulu.
Will there be more ‘National Lampoon’s Vacation’ movies?
In December 2019, a TV spin-off series called ‘The Griswolds’ was announced, set to be aired on HBO Max. The former Rusty actor, Johnny Galecki, is serving as an executive producer. However, as of December 2023, there haven’t been any recent updates on the project, and its official status remains uncertain.
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